Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight meeting, July 7, 2026
- When: Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 11:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
- Video: https://vimeo.com/1204268397
- Transcript: full text (15,758 words, automatic captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight heard two public commenters and approved its June 2026 Rule 45 report. The committee accepted and passed a substitute ordinance sponsored by Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen clarifying that the ethics code's ban on using confidential information applies to prediction markets and event contracts. It then passed a resolution introduced by Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez calling on US Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign, with the chair noting one opposing voice. The committee closed with a subject matter hearing on democracy and election reform, hearing presentations on ranked-choice voting, a mobile voting pilot, dark money disclosure, returning vote-by-mail ballots at polling places, and Board of Elections updates and legislative priorities. No action was taken on the subject matter hearing.
Topics: Prediction markets, Ethics ordinance, US Attorney resolution, Ranked-choice voting, Mobile voting, Dark money disclosure, Vote by mail, Election administration, Election judges
Agenda items discussed
- 9:38 Public comment
- 16:19 Rule 45 report from June 2026: passed
- 16:34 Substitute ordinance amending Section 2-156-070 to prohibit use or disclosure of confidential information for prediction markets or event contracts: passed
- 31:15 Resolution calling on US Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign: passed
- 39:05 Subject matter hearing on democracy and election reform policy proposals: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Matthew J. Martin (chair): Asked the Board of Elections how many vote-by-mail ballots went uncounted because of federal postmark changes. (1:38:10); Asked whether the Board of Elections has estimated the cost of adopting ranked-choice voting. (1:38:57); Asked the League of Women Voters whether DuPage County saw more ballots returned at election-day drop-offs and how the proposal arose. (1:40:27)
- Timothy R. Knudsen (alderperson): Presented the ordinance clarifying that the ban on using confidential information for personal gain applies to prediction markets and event contracts, citing recent federal and platform cases. (17:21); Said the ordinance does not regulate prediction market companies and was reviewed and supported by the Law Department, Board of Ethics and Inspector General. (19:30); Said prediction markets are growing faster than regulation and city officials and staff may learn nonpublic information, such as on the Bears stadium question. (22:08)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Thanked the sponsor and asked for observations on the broader growth of prediction markets and betting. (21:16)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked for examples of prohibited conduct and why betting on one's own election would be a problem. (24:21); Said he understood the intent and fully supports the ordinance. (26:54)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said he supports the ordinance and asked how the city would enforce it and track violations. (27:16); Asked how violations would come to light if bets are not publicly reported. (29:36)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Urged support for a resolution calling on US Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign, citing concerns about prosecutions and departures from the office. (31:26); Described the Broadview Six prosecution, which he said was narrowed and dismissed with prejudice, and a judge's concerns about grand jury conduct. (32:55); Said the resolution calls for resignation, a merit-based process for new leadership and an independent review, and cited a joint statement by Senators Durbin and Duckworth. (34:58)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Thanked the sponsor and spoke in support of the resolution, describing his own presence at Broadview protests and the effects of the indictments. (35:58); Asked how a mobile voting pilot would weigh citywide versus ward-level access gaps in choosing locations. (1:16:53); Called the mobile voting proposal commendable, particularly stops at shelters. (1:19:38)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked whether state authorization is needed for ranked-choice voting and mobile voting. (1:27:50); Said mobile voting could help with long election-day lines in his high-turnout, high-mobility ward. (1:28:39); Asked whether dark money disclosure could be done by the city and whether polling places could accept vote-by-mail ballots. (1:29:45)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked what impact ranked-choice voting has had on overall voter turnout in cities that adopted it. (1:33:10)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Said he introduced a resolution asking Springfield to consider moving city elections to November and asked about turnout and cost effects. (1:34:37)
Exchanges between members
- 16:58 The chair turned the floor over to Knudsen to present his ordinance.
- 17:05 Knudsen thanked Chairman Matthew J. Martin before presenting the ordinance.
- 21:16 Hadden thanked Knudsen for the clarification and asked for his observations on prediction markets.
- 22:08 Knudsen answered Hadden's question about the growth of prediction markets.
- 24:15 Sposato asked Knudsen for examples of prohibited conduct and about betting on one's own election.
- 25:03 Knudsen answered Sposato with examples of how nonpublic information could be used in bets.
- 27:16 Reilly complimented Knudsen for bringing the ordinance and asked how it would be enforced.
- 30:43 Reilly thanked Knudsen for answering and for bringing the ordinance forward.
- 31:12 The chair commended Knudsen after the substitute passed.
- 31:24 The chair gave Rodriguez the floor to present his resolution.
- 35:58 Vasquez thanked Rodriguez as lead sponsor and spoke in support of the resolution.
- 39:02 The chair congratulated Rodriguez after the resolution passed.
- 1:26:49 Vasquez thanked Chairman Matthew J. Martin for holding the election reform hearing.